2003 BMW Z4 Roadster

In the care of the seller since April 2021, this Sapphire Black BMW Z4 comes with an excellent service history, although it hasn’t been driven for a while, which explains the gap in the MoT history. The recent MoT shows two advisories on worn front tyres and a greasy brake pipe but otherwise passed with flying colours.

But, it’s got a fresh one on it now, so it’s ready and willing to help you enjoy what’s left of the summer – and if you’re prepared to trust the heated seats and powerful heater, well into the autumn and winter, too.

Still showing under 80,000 miles on the odometer – a figure the service and online MoT history support – ‘RN53 LFT’ is a good example of a perennially popular convertible sportscar.

You know the score by now: black is the most unforgiving colour of them all, ruthlessly highlighting even insignificant flaws and blemishes; simply put, if a black car looks this good then there’s little to worry about regarding the bodywork.

And this one does present very well. With ripple-free flanks, an absence of car-parks dinks and dents, and a great shine to the Sapphire Black paint, it still looks every inch the up-market performance car it always was.

The black hood is taut and fits very well and it, like the bodywork, shows few signs of its age and certainly nothing so vulgar as rips, tears or other damage.

It also rises and falls as it should and has a proper glass rear window and demisting element, which adds to the Z4’s all-season usability; this is a convertible sportscar you can use all year round without having to dress like a WWII pilot.

(Enthusiasts will appreciate the fact it’s had the roof motor relocated, an acknowledged solution to a well-known issue.)

Other signs of a life gently led include the alloy wheels, which are in great shape.

The cream leather interior is utterly lovely featuring leather seats, am aftermarket quilted carpet, and just enough wood and brushed metal to let your passenger know they aren’t sitting in just any old sportscar.

The two seats are electrically adjustable and heated, which again adds to the car’s winter credentials; there are few better feelings than whipping through a winter night with the heater on full blast and the seats warming your buttocks as snow swirls around you.

With only a gentle patina on their surface, they’ve survived the decades very well. They are still comfortable and supportive and adjust as they should.

The stubby gear lever falls nicely to hand and makes snicking up and down the gearbox a delight. This is an upgraded weighted jobbie and matches the (similarly renewed) handbrake and foot pedals.

Speaking of upgrades, the quilted carpets look terrific, don’t they? They aren’t something we’ve seen before but love the retro-look they give the cabin.

There’s a wind deflector too, which will do a very effective job of taming any high-speed turbulence, plus Bluetooth audio and cruise control, both of which have been retrofitted to help bring the car’s accoutrements up to the level modern drivers demand.

As for the rest of the factory trim, the driver’s door card is the weakest are with some marks and wear to it. Everything else looks very good though, which means your To Do list isn’t bad at all.

The boot is neatly trimmed and plays home to the factory tool kit and warning triangle as well as the main battery.

The engine bay is decent, if a little grubby, and sports what looks to be an aftermarket strut brace for better handling.

The Z4’s service history is all but impeccable, with obsessive servicing until 2019 and one home service after that.

• 20.10.2004 – pre-delivery inspection by BMW (GB) Ltd

• 16.05.2006 and 12,634 miles – service by Cooper Banstead BMW

• 23.12.2008 and 22,776 miles – service by Cooper Banstead BMW

• 10.10.2009 and 30,155 miles – service by G.P.C. Motors

• 08.08.2010 and 32,012 miles – service by G.P.C. Motors

• 02.02.2011 and 47,000 miles – service by G.P.C. Motors

• 02.01.2013 and 50,310 miles – service by G.P.C. Motors

• 10.06.2013 and 50,412 miles – service by G.P.C. Motors

• 15.06.2014 and 50,800 miles – service by G.P.C. Motors

• 20.06.2015 and 54,578 miles – service by G.P.C. Motors

• 15.06.2016 and 59,231 miles – service by G.P.C. Motors

• 08.06.2017 and 61,511 miles – service by G.P.C. Motors

• 04.06.2018 and 67,231 miles – service by G.P.C. Motor

• 05.08.2019 and 69,592 miles – service by FD Mechanics including lower arm bushes, fresh brake fluid, and an auxiliary drive belt at a cost of £736

• 18.07.2021 and 72,500 miles – home service by the seller

Impressive, eh? The seller also notes: “recent work has included brake discs and pads, sparkplugs and replacing the worn intake pipework. It had a different exhaust backbox installed too, but the factory one has been placed back on with sealing clamps and is gastight.”

We are told the BMW will have a full 12-month MoT by the time the auction starts, so please ignore the recent Vehicle History Check that shows it as having expired.

Being offered with no reserve, this lovely Sapphire Black BMW Z4 would be an ideal candidate to help you enjoy what’s left of the summer – and with heated seats and a powerful heater, you can stretch your top-down fun well into the winter, too.

It’s also got an excellent service and maintenance record, and has been judiciously updated over the years to help it meet the increasingly stringent demands of the modern driver – and if originality is your thing, reverting it to the factory specification would be straightforward.

Other signs of a life gently led include the alloy wheels, which are in great shape, and a set of four matching Bridgestone Potenza RFs.

We estimate this car will reach anywhere between £4,000 - £6,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located in Guildford, Surrey. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.